East Cork residents whose homes and businesses were flooded in the aftermath of Storm Babet two years ago protested outside Cork County Council's HQ earlier today.
The Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group were protesting against what they said has been the slow progress in flood relief protection in their areas of East Cork.
Spokesperson Caroline Leahy said they wanted to raise awareness that "we are still here, we're not happy with the progress on the ground, and we need to be heard, and we need to be seen".
Storm Babet caused up to 200 million euros of damage to 600 homes and 300 businesses in October 2023, and while a major flood relief project is under way for the town of Midleton, outlying villages such as Rathcormac, Castlemartyr and Mogeely feel left behind.
The group highlighted, in particular today, delays in the Flood Barrier Scheme which according to the council, 74 of 725 properties have had work done since Storm Babet.
Ms Leahy, whose home was damaged in the floods, said it is nearly 12 months since that scheme was first announced
"Very little has been achieved, we take one step forward, three steps back, that's how it feels.
"We had the promise of the Flood Barrier Scheme in October 2024 and it has been extremely slow to roll out. What's being delivered isn't adequate, its not high enough," she said.
"The progression of the big scheme in Midleton isn't going at the speed it should be, those time lines have already been pushed back time and time again since Babet and the areas outside of Midleton, Mogeely, Castlemartyr and Killeagh and Rathcormac, they haven't got a start date. They are living with endless, endless, winters of no support whatsoever."
Her frustration is shared by others, among them retired GP Dr Liam Motherway whose home and surgery in Midleton were flooded in 2025.
"I personally was visited six times before an assessment was done in relation to the protection barriers and work has started but almost two years later. It seems to be very, very slow, that's the main crib".
Catherine Power, from the village of Castlemartyr which flooded in 2009, 2015 and 2023, says the OPW recently told them funding is being made available for a study to look at options for the village.
"After all that (Storm Babet two years ago) here we are at hiring a consultant. We understand this isn't going to happen until after Christmas so there is nothing there for us for this winter".
Vivienne Jeffers whose timber framed home was one of 30 flooded in the village of Mogeely said she is at her "wit's end".
"I am here to represent my family. We were flooded in Storm Babet for the first time ever, we are in timber framed houses so we stand no chance even now, we stood no chance then, the water was coming through air vents in the ground and up through the floor boards. It was just horrific," she said.
"Just this weekend alone from the original weather forecast for the rain levels that were coming, it actually nearly broke my heart, I am close to having a nervous breakdown with the fear."
The group has vowed to continue their protest with a march planned for Midleton next month to mark the second anniversary of the devastating flooding.
In a statement issued this lunchtime, Cork County Council said it is acutely aware of the concerns of residents and has committed significant resources to progress flood relief schemes and relief measures in the county.
In a statement they cited progress on the Major Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, as well as the Property Protection Scheme, and efforts to progress works in Castlemartyr, Rathcormac and Mogeely under the OPW Tranche 2 scheme and its Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme.
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